Health Reform Online Resource Center
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Passage of health reform was one of the proudest moments in my 31 years in elective office. Now that this reform has become law, the facts will speak for themselves as providers and patients remain in control of their health care, insurance companies are forced to play by the rules and the stranglehold of skyrocketing premiums on family budgets is broken. I know that when the dust settles, South Dakotans will see the positive impact this bill will have on our economy and their bottom line. |
Tim speaking on the Senate floor in favor of health care reform in December, 2009. |
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Implementation Timeline
What Health Reform Means for You
Health reform will not be fully implemented until 2014, however the law has already made great strides in improving access to quality, affordable health care for folks in South Dakota.
- 9,000 young adults under age 26 gained insurance under their parent’s plan in South Dakota because of the Affordable Care Act, over 3.1 million young adults have benefited from this provision nationwide.
- 54 million Americans with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing, including 151,000 South Dakotans.
- Since the health reform was enacted, South Dakota Medicare beneficiaries have saved a total of $11,240,253 on their prescription drugs. In the first five months of 2012, 1,659 people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole. This discount has resulted in an average savings of $692 per person, and a total savings of $1,147,960 in South Dakota. The law will close the donut hole by 2020.
- In the first six months of 2012, 46,812 people with Medicare in South Dakota received free preventive services. In 2011 96,351 South Dakotans on Medicare received free preventive services or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor.
- Health reform stands up to insurance companies on behalf of the American people. Insurers are now required to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars collected on direct medical care and efforts to improve the quality of care beneficiaries receive. Insurance companies are required to publicly justify rate increase by 10 percent or more and South Dakota has received $3 million under health reform to fight unreasonable premium increases.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for implementing many of the health reform changes included in the Affordable Care Act. HealthCare.gov is a website created by HHS that enables you to take health care into your own hands, explore insurance coverage options and learn how health reform impacts you. I encourage you to visit this valuable resource to find out how health reform benefits you.
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